Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Ice Horror's Domain
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The world spread out beneath the frigid ice sheet was a maze.
The underground space I'd chosen as my nest had been massively hollowed out in both directions, but this place took it to another level. It looked like massive mining drills had churned through here and there, boring out passages everywhere.
The Mother of the Sky and I traversed the underground ice labyrinth.
Thanks to my auxiliary organs, I could navigate without getting lost even in pitch darkness. That was fine for me, but the Mother of the Sky moved effortlessly through this lightless void as well.
"Which way do you think is faster?"
[Zuzuzu zuzu zuzuzu zu (The right path looks better)]
"Yeah?"
Her pumpkin-orange eyes, glowing softly beside me like lantern flames, flickered faintly.
Among the phantom beasts that wolves could transform into, there were types that stored light in their bodies and emitted it as needed. Thanks to that ability, griffons could make full use of their exceptional vision day or night.
Like adventurers relying on a single small torch to explore an unknown realm, we pressed onward toward the nest.
Something's off.
It had been over ten minutes since we'd entered, but we hadn't encountered a single creature. There should be lifeforms inhabiting an underground space like this.
And the deeper we went, the more convinced I became that these empty spaces weren't natural formations—I hadn't noticed at first entry.
The Mother of the Sky had the same thought.
"Looks like we've wandered into the wrong place."
She pointed to a section of the wall with her forepaw.
Long gouges, about 3 meters in length, dotted the surface sporadically. They were old, caked thick with ice and dirt.
But I knew what those marks meant.
I knew what this place was.
This was a space crafted by a being vaster than any creature I'd faced before.
A monster of immense power, a step below a Black Galleron but no less formidable.
[Zuzuzuzu zuzuzu (This is Ice Horror's territory)]
"...Judging by the size, at least an Adult. Maybe even beyond."
Ice Horrors shed their skins as they aged, growing larger and their carapaces harder with each molt. In the game, they capped at Adult stage for balance reasons, limiting their size growth.
But this was reality. If it kept growing after reaching Adult, its size was beyond imagination.
Those marks look like claw scratches from its legs.
Claws that size meant the thing's body was at least 150 meters long. Truly off-the-charts.
"Feel anything around?"
[Zuzu (Not yet)]
Of course. I'd scanned with my auxiliary organs before descending. Only chilly air, no unusual movements.
I pressed them against the wall—same result.
But if this was Ice Horror territory, we couldn't afford to relax.
Due to its massive bulk, it didn't hunt far afield. It claimed a territory as its hunting ground and preyed on whatever entered.
We've been here for dozens of minutes. It knows we're intruders by now.
It could detect scents or vibrations from dozens of kilometers away. Far superior to me, who could only sense enemies within a few kilometers without a nest.
By now, it was probably rushing to catch us.
Plus, despite its size, Ice Horrors could muffle their movements. The fine hairs on their legs and body absorbed sound during motion.
That meant hearing it coming was already too late.
Even if we spotted it early and fled, this was its home turf. Escape would only buy time.
Better to prepare how to fight it.
Let's break it down step by step.
First, its advantages: I didn't know much about this one.
I knew Ice Horrors well, but not how much stronger this specimen was.
In the game, they topped out under 100 meters. This one was easily 150-plus. My body was 28 meters now; even using the Emblem of the Hunt to grow larger, I'd still be tiny by comparison.
Unlike Sea Demons or Black Gallerons with their bizarre special abilities, Ice Horrors lacked fancy powers. They overwhelmed with raw physical prowess.
Its strength and defense were surely superior to mine.
And its detection was better too. Antennae on its head picked up vibrations, sounds, scents—everything.
No matter where I hid, it'd find me fast. No ambushes like usual.
Superior detection, unknown power level. Those were its edges.
My advantages are the same.
It knew nothing about me either. Probably saw us as stray Winter Walkers that fell underground.
It doesn't know what I can do.
If it was an outlier in size, so was I.
Even if my combat power fell short, I had traits to compensate.
And while I didn't know this Ice Horror, I knew the species inside out—habits, strengths, weaknesses, all in my head.
Diverse traits, experience hunting countless Ice Horrors. Those were my weapons.
With my thoughts sorted, I called out to the Mother of the Sky.
[Zuzu zuzu (We'll fight here)]
"Just the two of us?"
I shook my head at her question.
Of course not.
I'd know once we faced it, but solo was too much.
If it's 150 meters-plus like I think, even cracking its carapace will be tough.
The thinnest parts were meters thick. Without my Hunt-Emblem-enhanced body or something like the Divine Lash, no real damage.
So I needed everyone here—not just me, but Specimen 026, Adhai, the Mother of the Sky.
[Zu zuzu zu zuzuzu zuzuzu zuzuzuzu zuzuzu (I'll buy time. Go to the nest and bring the others)]
"You're drawing it out?"
[Zu (Yeah)]
"Hmm. It does prioritize big prey, but not always. I might get hit first."
Fair point.
Ice Horrors favored large meals but had exceptions. Cunning bastards—they acted unpredictably sometimes.
Like taking out weak-looking foes first, then big ones. If it did that here, the Mother of the Sky would be in deep trouble.
[Zuzuzu zuzuzu (No need to worry)]
Cunning or not, I could outthink it.
Kids, your time to shine.
The circular membrane where my thick backplate met my waist tore open with a sticky rip. Tiny imps from the nest poured out.
The infection-fusion trait, Tooth Fairy Nest, had activated.
Murder Fleas—still tiny compared to my 28-meter frame—lined up before me. The Mother of the Sky, grasping my intent, nodded.
"...I get it."
[Zu zuzu zuzuzu zuzuzu zuzuzuzu zuzuzu (Right. When you hit a fork, veer right)]
"I figure it out without explanations?"
The griffon snorted, meeting my gaze.
She said nothing more, but I could guess her thoughts.
I gave a slight nod, and she bolted forward.
Sending her off, I turned to the Tooth Fairies.
You've got jobs to do.
They received my intent via psychic waves and scattered to their tasks. Watching them disperse, I moved to position.
A nearby chamber perfect for battling the beast.
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The "thing" crawling the ice cavern on countless legs halted in place.
A change in the distant vibrations.
The large and small vibrations, moving together, suddenly split and headed different ways.
It knew what that meant. Prey in packs sometimes sacrificed adults as bait to protect young. This seemed similar.
Answer was clear: target the small vibrations. Young were slow and weak—eat them first, strong adults later. More efficient.
It started following the small ones as usual, but its antennae picked up new vibrations.
Tiny tremors pouring from the large vibration.
Unprecedented. Was the small one bait now? Or a misread?
It pressed its long antennae to the floor. Amid the chill of soil and ice, faint shakes and sounds traveled up.
Footsteps of tiny creatures. Meaning young clustered around the large one.
That explained the change—some beast carrying offspring on its back. Rare, but it existed. Satisfied, it accepted.
Ssss...
Retrieving its antennae, it set off again.
Destination: the cluster of vibrations.
Hundreds of legs churned busily, gliding silently through the ice maze despite its colossal size. Any other creature hearing it might think it was wind through a hole somewhere underground.
In short order, prey entered its senses. Ten young ahead.
Stragglers from the fleeing group, perhaps.
Quite aggressive for young—they charged at the "thing" emerging in the passage.
It flung open its four jaw-plates covering its mouth and slammed its head down. The jaws drilled like augers, ripping up the frozen floor wholesale. The young mixed with dirt, rock, and ice, straight to its guts.
Size disparity so vast, comparison unnecessary.
Devouring ten in a gulp, it pressed on.
Antennae signaled: one more passage to a chamber. Large vibration and young gathered there.
Anticipating the feast, venom drooled from its jaws. Eager to stuff fresh meat into its innards, it raced through the ice tunnel.
It burst headfirst into the wide chamber. The "large vibration" close enough for antennae to outline.
"Gotcha."
A faint voice riding the air.
It didn't grasp the words' meaning.
But the massive energies from the source? It knew what those would bring.
It tried retreating into the tunnel, but its bulk jammed it. Before it could budge, the dreaded happened.
Immense energy from the chamber depths scorched its carapace. Heating shell and flesh alike, it screamed.
Ssss!
Pain like when young, attacked by sky serpents.
Difference: destruction incomparable to back then.
Energy didn't just burn—it collapsed ceiling and walls above. Flames fading, rocks and ice crushed it flat.
-
Plan's working.
This chamber had multiple ice tunnels, but I'd deliberately left ten Tooth Fairies in that one.
Sure an Ice Horror targeting weaklings first would trample them. Sensing their deaths, I was primed to unleash Psionic Breath.
Chose Breath over Divine Lash for simplicity: Lash would've collapsed the entire ice plain above.
Everyone else would've been crushed. Flying Gallerons outside would've noticed instantly.
So, next-strongest remote attack: Psionic Breath.
And its size worked against it.
Estimated 150 meters; head alone suggested bigger. Too bulky—sensed my attack early but jammed in the tunnel.
First strike mine.
The tunnel it'd come through was obliterated, but Ice Horrors weren't dying to that. Probably just damaged where Breath hit directly.
It'd burst out and pounce soon.
Before then.
To fight a monster, become one first.
I activated the Emblem of the Hunt.